Everett looked too damn chipper considering how little sleep he must have gotten last night. He and his boy-toy had been loudly enthusiastic pretty much until dawn. I'd gone out to do some errands before the heat got too overwhelming, so I missed the morning after show, but I'd seen enough of them over the years to know how it went.

"I still don't get why you like this shit," Everett said as he set my drink in front of me. "I mean, Iced Chestnut Praline Latte? What the hell is that supposed to be, anyway?"

"Delicious and much-needed sugar and caffeine," I said matter-of-factly, then practically inhaled a mouthful. "Thank you."

"I heard your boy leaving just after midnight. Seems to me you got plenty of sleep," Everett said.

I glared at him even as a few women passed behind him, clearly checking him out. He really was too attractive for his own good.

"I would have gotten sleep if someone hadn't been making wild monkey love at all hours," I pointed out.

To my surprise, he flushed, then pointed at the plate in front of me. "Eat your Gaeng Keow Wan."

I raised an eyebrow and took a couple bites of my favorite Thai meal. It said a lot about how well the two of us knew each other that he knew exactly what I ordered even though I'd placed the orders while he'd gone to get us drinks at the coffee place next door. We'd been coming here often enough over the last couple years that the owners didn't mind if we snuck in drinks from time to time.

After a few minutes of eating in silence, he asked, "So was that guy not that good? I mean, you certainly weren't howling with pleasure."

I rolled my eyes, but there was no embarrassment. The two of us had gotten past any of that ages ago. We shared everything. Hopes. Dreams. Nightmares. Problems. Struggles. Sex. Love. No subject was taboo. Everett had said more than once that we were true soulmates, two parts of a single whole.

And without the fuck-ups that sex usually brought to a relationship.

"Come on, Sav," he continued, reaching across the table to steal a forkful of curry chicken. "Seriously. When was the last time a guy stay all night because once just wasn't enough?"

I was about to give him a sarcastic response when it hit me. I couldn't remember. And it wasn't that I couldn't remember the last time a guy had been so good that I wanted more. I couldn't remember the last time I'd wanted to fall asleep in a guy's arms. Not just wanted to, but hadn't been able to help myself.

"He wasn't bad," I said finally. "I mean, he managed to get me off, which is better than some of the other guys I've fucked."

Everett's expression sobered. "Is that really what you want? A guy that's just 'not bad' or just better than someone else?"

I raised an eyebrow as I took the last couple bites of my meal, and then I countered his questions with my own. "Isn't that what hooking up is essentially? Finding someone to fuck who was halfway decent?"

He shrugged and looked down at his cup. Poked at his Goong Chu Chee.

"Ev?"

He sighed and raised his head. "I'm thinking that maybe I want something more."

"Really?" I didn't bother to hide my surprise. "You sounded like you were having plenty of fun last night."

"I did," he admitted, his fingers shredding his napkin. To my continued amazement, his cheeks stained red. "And I asked Cal if he wanted to go out tonight. Like on a real date."

"His name is Cal?" I leaned forward and covered his hand with mine, a big grin spreading across my face. "From the way you were yelling, I thought his name was oh fuck me harder."

"Bitch," Everett muttered good naturedly, a smile playing on his lips.

I laughed and tossed a balled-up napkin at him. "Seriously though, if that's what you want, good for you."

"But that's not what you want?"

I leaned back in my seat and shook my head. "Come on, Ev, you know me better than that. Besides, with my new assignment starting tomorrow, I have enough to focus on."

"That's right," he said, his eyes lighting up. "I want details about this artist you've been gushing about."

"You'll have them as soon as I do," I promised. "But I doubt it'll be anything as exciting as your fuck me harder Cal."

His returned lob of my napkin hit me square in the forehead.